Machine for laying in the strands of wire gables



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'T. F. BORRMAN. MACHINE FOR LAYING IN THE STRANDS OF WIRE CABLES. N0. 458,672.

Patented Sept. 1, 1891.

WITNESSES:

INVE/VTUR J/ZFOLYO/FZT/JWOM ATTORA/HJ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. F. BORRMAN. I MACHINE FOR LAYING IN THE STRANDS 0F WIRE GABLES.

No. 458,672. Patented Sept. 1, 1891.

A TTOR/VEYJ.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE F. BORRMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR LAYING IN THE STRANDS OF WIRE GABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,672, dated September 1, 1891. Application filed January 30, 1891. Serial No. 379,732. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, THEODORE F. BORRMAN, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Laying in the Strands of a \Vire Cable, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for laying in the strands of a wire cable; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my complete invention, showing the same as applied in laying and twisting the strands of the cable. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isavertical cross-section taken on the line Q) h of Fig. 2. Fig. dis a longitudinal cross-section taken on the linezroc of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line g y of Fig. a. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a sliding plate. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a laying-in and twisting device which I employ forlaying and twisting the strands. Fig. Sis a front elevation of a collar detached. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a longitudinally-sectionized cylinder, showing the manner in which the sections are fitted together. Fig. 10 is a top plan View of a sectionized cylinder with the sections partly open. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of a lever which I employ in revolving the cylinder. Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-section of the sectionized cylinder. Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line .2 z of Fig. 2. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a collar and bifurcated arms, and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of a cable.

The object of my invention is to construct a device forlayingin and twisting the strands of a wire cable Without resorting to the ordinary means as heretofore employed, which are to wit: The strands were first laid in by hand in their appropriate spiral crevices, which required the employment of one man for each operation in laying in a strand, and then the strand had to be beaten in with a hammer, and at the free end of said strand an additional man was required to carry the strand around and prevent it from being twisted and knotted in the solid portion of the cable. By the old arrangement to lay in a single strand required three men to each end of the strand, or where the wire was wrapped in two directions it would require six men to lay in one strand, while in. my invention it requires only two men at each end,

or four in all, to lay in asingle strand, or the same number (four men) can lay in twoor three strands as easily and with as much ra pidity as they can one.

To achieve economyin the number of men employed, as well as to facilitate the laying in the strands, I employ the following-described apparatus and device, as will be more specifically hereinafter pointed out.

Referring to the-drawings, 1 represents an ordinary endless cable which necessitates repair, or the same device maybe employed and practically the same operation gone through with, if it is desired, to splice the ends ofa new cable in joining them together.

2 indicates a solid post or pillar, to which said cable is rigidly secured by means of a clamp 35.

& represents an additional clamp, which is rigidly secured to cable 1, to which clamp a chain 5 is secured, and to said chain a trestle, which supports most of the operative mechanism of my device, is also secured. This chain is rendered necessary to secure the trestle,inasmu ch asthe laying in ofthe strands, as hereinafter described, would have a tendency to draw the trestle away from the pillar.

' To said trestle a hinged collar 6 is rigidly and permanently secured. Said collar is provided on its base or lower surface with perforated ears, through which, and likewise the trestle, bolts are adapted to pass, thereby holding the said collar and trestle rigidly and permanently together, as above stated. Said collaris composed of two sections hinged together by means of a horizontal bolt 7, which passes through corresponding perforations made in said sections, thereby holding them in a hinged position. \Vhen said sections are closed or brought together in use, they are held in said position by means of a similar bolt 8. Both sections of said collar are provided on their internal surface with screw threads. i

9 indicatesa cylinder which is composed of operated by means of set-screws 2,8.

leverage.

two sections. Said sections are united by a tongue-andgroove joint, as shown in Fig. 12. The top section 10 of said cylinder may be slipped out of the lower section 11, thereby forming such an opening that the wire cable 1 may be placed in said cylinder. As the wire cable is generally endless, it is necessary to have this sectionized cylinder, so that the cable may be placed in the same. WVhen the cable has been placed in said cylinder, sect-ion 10 can be pushed and placed back in its normal position in section 11. Said sections are provided with left-hand screw-threads, and said cylinder is adapted to be screwed in the screwthreaded collar 6.

12 indicatesanother hinged collar, which is adapted to fit over cylinder 9 and revolve on the same. Said collar 12 islikewise composed of two sections, which are hinged together in any suitable and mechanical manner, preferably, however, as shown in thedrawings. Said collar is provided with projections 13, which projections are provided with perforations 14, and to said projections 13 bifurcated arms 15 are permanently and rigidly secured by means of nut-bolts passing through said perforations and also said bifurcated arms. Theobject of having said collar 12Vhinged is to permit the opening of the sections thereof, so that the wire cable can be passed between said sections and ultimately reach the center of cylinder 9. Said collar may be rigidly secured to said cylinder by means of thumb-screws 16. When said collar is rigidly secured to said cylinder by the means as above stated, said cylinder can be revolved by the application of power to arms15 without the assistance of any other The end of cylinder 9 is provided with projections 18, over which a lever 19 may be applied, by the aid of which said cylinder may be revolved.

20 indicates another hinged collar, which is adapted to be rigidly secured over the end of cylinder 19, the function of which when so rigidly secured by means of thumb-scews 21 is to prevent collar 12 from slipping off from cylinder 9.

22 indicates grooved plates which are adapted to slip upwardly and downwardly between the bifurcations of arms 15. Said plates are held in their desiredadjustment by means of thumb-screws 23. Said plates are likewise provided with screw-threaded perforations, into which are adapted to be screwed or inserted screw-threaded bolts 24, one end of which bolts are provided withan angular extension or surface 25, and the opposite end thereof is provided with ahead 25. Said bolts are adapted to be inserted in suitable perforations formed in the swivel'links 26. The open ends of said swivel-links are provided with clamps 27, which clamps are adapted to be Said swivel-links provided with clamps, as hereinbefore stated, are adapted to hold the free endsof the strands of the cable.

If it is desired to lay and twist in one strand, of course there would be need only for one arm and its attachments; but I preferably construct my device provided with three arms 15, providing said arms with attachment-s, as hereinbefore stated. With three arms one operator can manipulate and twist around the free ends of three strands as easily as he could one.

29 represents, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strands of a wire cable which are to be inserted in a fractured cable. For instance, it it is desired to put in a twenty-foot strand the middle partor the part ten feet from each end is rigidly secured in a vise 30, which vise is of the usual construction and mounted upon any suitable support. Whenever said strand is rigidly secured to the body of the cablefor instance as shown in Fig.- l the ends are wrapped in an opposite direction,

which of course will necessitate the useof another device similar to the one shown in the drawings; or, for instance, if the free ends of the wire, as shown in Fig. 1, are to be wrapped toward the operator of course the free ends of the other half of the strands would be wrapped from the operator by means of a similar device.

' 31 indicatesa laying andtwisting in device which I employ in laying and twisting in the strands of the cable. Said device consists of an approximately U-shaped portion 32,.which portion is'provided with perforations, in which arms 33 may be suitablysecured. Said arms are provided near the said U-shaped portion with curved portions34c, in which curved portions the strands are adapted to fit and will not work out when the device 31 is operated. The U-shaped portion 32 is adapted to fit over the solid portion of the cable or the strands which are suitably secured together and need no repair.

In Fig. 1 the application of a laying and twisting device is shown and the method of applying it. In this figure itis shown that the U-shaped portion 32 fits over the solid portion of the cable 36, one strand 29 resting on each arm. When the device31 is revolved, (which is done by hand,) of course it will carry 'the strands with it and draw them into their proper spiral crevices or the crevices formed between the solid strands of the cable. Whenever the strands have been coiled, of course they will consequently become shorter, and to allow this contraction or shortening of the strands by being wrapped in their appropriate crevices the cylinder 9 may be unscrewed by means of the lever 19, or the collar 12 may be rigidly secured to the cylinder 9 by means of the set-screws 16, and the revolution of the arms to wrap the strands will then at the same time unscrew the cylinder. The free ends of the strands are secured by means of clamps 27, which are located in swivellinks 26, and to regulate the tension of said strands-for instance, if one is shorter than the other-it can be letout or drawn up by means of a crank 37, which fits over the ends of the screw-bolts 24. Of course as the strands are Wrapped and become shorter the free ends should be brought closer to the solid portion 36 of the cable. This adjustment is efifected by lowering the grooved plates 22.

Having given an explicit description of the mechanical parts and the constructionof my device, I will now proceed to describe its functional use. In the first place the cable in which the strand or strands are to be inserted and secured is placed in cylinder 9 and its attachments, practically as hereinbefore stated. Then the strand or strands, as the case may be, is firmly bound to the solid portion of the cable by means of vise 30, as shown in Fig. 1. The free end of said strand or strands, as the case may be, is secured to the swivel-link 26 by clamp 27. The first step in laying in the strands is then accomplished by the laying-in and twisting device 31, which can be operated effectively by one person, and one person can revolve arms 15, and consequently simultaneously carry around the free ends of the strands as the same are twisted on the solid portions of the cable by means of the device 31. The device 31, operated with the assistance of the revolving arms 15 and their attachments, the latterbcing also operated, will simultaneously lay in and wrap the strands in their appropriate spiral crevices.

My device is equally useful in splicing the terminal portions or ends of a Wire cable as in laying in strands for repairing the same. WVhenever it is desired to join the ends of the terminal portions of the cable, the operator should first take out a number of the strands and untWist the remaining strands of said portions and then bring said portion together with the untwisted straudsin an intertwined position, and then said strands may be laid in and twisted in their proper crevices in the manner as heretofore set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A device for laying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a sectionized collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for said collar, a longitudinally-sectionized eXternally-screw-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed in said collar, a sectionized revolving collar mounted on said cylinder, and arms secured to said collar, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for laying in the strands of a Wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized externally-screw-threaded cylinder the sections whereof are longitudinally tongued and grooved together and are adapted to be screwed in said collar, a sectionized collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder, and arms secured to said collar, substantially as set forth.

3. A device forlaying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized externallyscrew-threadcd cylinder the sections whereof are tongued and grooved together and one section whereof is adapted to be slipped out of the other to allow the insertion of the cable, said cylinder being adapted to be screwed into said internally-screw-threa? ed collar, a hinged collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder, and arms secured to said collar, substantially as set forth.

4. A device for laying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized externally-sorew-threaded cylinder adapted to be-screwed in said collar, a hinged collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also adapted to be rigidly mounted on the same by means of set-screws, and arms secured to said collar, substantially as set forth.

5. A device for laying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized externally-screw-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed in said collar, a hinged collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also adapted to be rigidly mounted on the same by means of set-screws, and bifurcated arms secured to said collar, substantially as set forth.

6. A device for laying in the strands of a Wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized eX- ternally-screw-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed in said collar, a hinged collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also adapted to be rigidly mounted on the same by means of set-screws, bifurcated arms secured to said collar, adjustable sliding plates secured in said arms, screw-threaded bolts adapted to be screwed through said plates, and swivel-links secured to said bolts, to which the strands may be secured, substantially as set forth.

7. A device for laying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized ex ternally-screw-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed in said collar, a hinged collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also for the same, a longitudinallysectionized externally-screw-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed into said collar, a hinged collarprovidedwith projections and rcvolubl y mounted on said cylinder, and arms secured to said projections, substantially as set forth.

9. A device for laying in the strands of Wire cables, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-th reads, a support for the same, a longitudin ally-seetionized externallyscrew-threaded cylinder adapted to be screwed in said collar, a hinged collar provided with projections and revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also adapted to be rigidly mounted on the same by means of set-screws, a similar hinged collar adapted to be rigidly mounted on said cylinder for securing said revolubly-1nounted collar in its normal position on said cylinder, and arms secured to said projections, substantially as set forth.

10. A device for laying in the strands of a wire cable, consisting of a hinged collar provided with internal screw-threads, a support for the same, a longitudinally-sectionized externally-screw-threaded cylinder provided on one end with projections and adapted to be screwed in said collar, a hinged collar provided with projections and revolubly mounted on said cylinder and also adapted to be rigidly mounted on the same by means of set-screws, a similar hinged collar adapted to be rigidly secured on said cylinder for securing said revolubly-mounted collar in its normal position on said cylinder, arms secured to said projections on the collar, and a lever provided with perforations adapted to be placed over the projections formed on the end of said sectionized externally-screwthreaded cylinder for revolving and adjustin g the same, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a longitudinallysectionized eXternally-screW-threaded cylinder, an internally-screw-threaded hinged collar-in which said cylinder is mounted, a second collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder, arms secured to said collar for carrying around the free ends of the strands adapted to be secured to said arms, with a laying and twisting in device consisting of radial arms against which said strands are adapted to press when the same are operated, thereby laying and coiling said strands in their proper spiral crevices, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a longitudinallysectionized externally-screwthreaded cylinder, an internally-screw-threaded hinged collar in which said cylinder is mounted, a second collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder, arms secured to said collar for carrying around the free ends of the strands adapted to be secured to said arms, with a laying in and twisting device consisting of a U-shaped portion in which the solid portion of the cable may loosely lit, and radial arms secured to said U-shaped port-ion, against which said strands are adapted to press when the same are operated, therebylayin and coiling said strands in their appropriate spiral crevices, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a longitudinallysectionized externallyscrewthreaded cylinder, an internally-screw-threaded hinged collar in which said cylinder is mounted, a second collar revolubly mounted on said cylinder, arms secured to said collar for carrying around the free ends of the strands adapted to be secured to said arms, with a laying and twisting in device consisting of a U-shaped portion in which the solid portion of the cable may loosely fit, and radial arms, each provided with a depression, in which depressions said strands are adapted to fit when the same are operated, thereby laying and coiling said strands in their proper spiral crevices, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE F. BORRMAN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD EVERETT LoNeAN, H. (3. J OHNSON. 

